Maple tree named Mareltoi

ABSTRACT

A Silver Maple tree named Mareltoi, having distinctively split, lacy leaves, and being slow growing, apparently seedless, and very cold-hardy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive variety of mapletree botanically known as Acer saccharinum which was originated by me inmy nursery, located in Douglas County at 8032 Maple St., Omaha, Nebr.68134.

At the beginning of my origination aforesaid, a small block of silvermaple seedlings in my nursery had reached about seven feet in heightwhen a storm damaged a few of them. I cut the damaged trees off aboutsix inches above ground level. Later in the year, I noticed an unusualsport, or mutant growing from one of the trees that I had cut off. Thesport had very slender lobes on the leaf, growing long, twisted andparallel to each other. The distance between leaves was very short whichgave a very dense effect. I nursed the tree for six years, at which timeit seeded. I planted the seeds and four out of every one hundred, on theaverage, had the characteristics of the mother tree. I nursed theseedlings of the different characteristics. I discovered that one ofthem was even more split, lacy and curled. It was also much slowergrowing and more dense than the mother tree. This tree is now ten yearsold, is thirteen feet tall and has never seeded and is much slowergrowing, only about one-third or less, than a silver maple.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photos show a typical specimen tree of my new variety,during both its green summer foliage and yellow autumn foliage states,as well as a close-up view of a typical leaf, depicting the growth habitand lacy leaf of a ten year old tree.

SUMMARY OF NEW VARIETY

My tree has a very split, lacy leaf with long, almost parallel, lobesthat tend to twist. The growth of my tree is almost as slow as that ofthe Acer ginnala, or Amur Maple. My tree is ideal for the aridconditions of the midwest and plains states where it is difficult togrow the more dwarfed hard maple varieties. My tree responds well tobonsai, topiary or potted patio tree planting. It is apparentlyseedless.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NEW VARIETY

In view of the foregoing, among other reasons, I am convinced that mynew split leaf maple is a new and distinct variety, as particularlyevidenced by the following unique combination of principalcharacteristics which are outstanding in the same and which distinguishit from all other varieties of which I am aware:

(1) A much slower growing habit as compared to all other silver maples.

(2) A more split, lacy leaf than any silver maple.

(3) Appears to be seedless.

(4) Corkscrew type twist to the leaf lobes.

(5) Gold petiole, midrib and veins.

(6) Good resistance to insects and blight.

I have asexually reproduced my tree by stem graft, cleft graft, saddlegraft, bud graft and by rooting soft wood cuttings. In all tests, theasexually reproduced trees maintained their unusual characteristics, butall except the rooted cuttings were not as strong in roots, or as deeprooted. I have since reproduced only by rooting soft wood cuttings.

The following is a detailed description of my new variety of maple treewith color terminology in accordance with P.M.S. (Pantone MatchingSystem).

Propagation: Holds its distinguishing characteristics through succeedingpropagations by rooting softwood cuttings.

Tree: Very hardy. Not substantially different in form from averagesilver maple with great exception to being much smaller and slowergrowing.

Trunk: Smooth, brown. 469U.

Branches: Smooth with caraway seed type lenticels.

Color.--Brown 462C.

Lenticels.--Long, slender and very abundant -- White.

Leaves: Medium thickness tissue. Overly abundant leaves.

Color.--Summer Green 349U with the Yellow 100U following out of the midrib and veins into the leaf tissue.

Underside.--Silver.

Midrib and veins.--Yellow 100U.

Petiole.--Yellow 394U to partly Orangish Yellow 142U.

Fall color.--Yellow 394U to partly Orangish yellow 142U.

Shape.--Palmate but long, narrow major lobes running almost parallel toeach other and having a cork screw twist to them.

Size.--Length of blade -- 5 to 15 cm. Width of blade -- 21/2 to 5 cm.Length of petiole -- 3 to 8 cm.

Flower buds: None.

Flowers: None.

Fruit: None.

Insect resistance: Less prone to aphid and cottony maple scale thancommon silver maple grown in same field.

General observations: While my new variety of silver maple resembles thespecies Acer saccharinum, Lactiniatum or Wieri in some respects, it isdistinctly and strikingly different therefrom, particularly in respectto much more split and corkscrew, curled leaves with lobes running moreparallel to each other. The leaves are more abundant and closer togetheras appearing to be seedless. The growth habit is about one-third of thatof any other silver maple. My tree's slow growth and winter hardinessmakes it a welcome addition to the midwest and plains states, to be usedin place of dwarf split leaf hard maples that winter kill so easily. Itis very controllable as a bonsai, topiary or potted patio tree. ps

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of maple tree of the speciesbotanically known as Acer saccharinum, substantially as herein shown anddescribed, characterized particularly as to novelty by the uniquecombination of slow growth, harder wood, split lacy leaf, appearingseedless, very hardy, and resistant to blight and insects.